Salem State College in Massachusetts still expects former presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, to make a scheduled appearance at the school next month -- but it is talking with corporate sponsors who helped come up with the couples' undisclosed fee.

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Edwards admitted Friday that he had carried on an extramarital affair in 2006 with a filmmaker, Rielle Hunter, as his wife battled cancer. He said he told his wife about his affair with Hunter, 42, in 2006 and has asked her forgiveness.

Elizabeth Edwards said it wasn't easy finding out about the affair, but she said the healing process was "oddly made somewhat easier" after she was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago in March.

She said she's "proud" of what she calls the "courage" her husband has shown by his honesty in the face of shame.

Salem State College spokesman Jim Glynn said school officials expect the Sept. 23 event to go forward, but are consulting with corporate sponsors who helped pay the couples' undisclosed fee.

Glynn said the couple is coming to the college to speak about Elizabeth Edwards' battle with cancer, and the school does not want to get involved in "moral issues."

The lecture series is financed with private corporate donations and ticket sales. Tickets are selling for $10 to $75 and Glynn says the event is expected to sell out.

Meanwhile, Hunter has ruled out a DNA test to establish who the father is of her baby. Her lawyer said his client is a private individual and will not take part in DNA testing or, in his words, "any other invasion of her or her daughter's privacy now or in the future."

Edwards said he is not the father of the woman's daughter and is willing to take a test to determine the 5-month-old baby's paternity.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama expressed sympathy for Edwards and his family, but added that the two probably won't attend the Democratic convention in Denver.

Edwards had been expected to speak in prime time and was viewed as a possibility for the Cabinet if Barack Obama wins the White House.

But now a fellow North Carolina Democrat said Edward's "credibility is shot" and his political career is over because of his admitted affair.

Former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker said it's a "colossal" mistake that's likely to haunt Edwards for the rest of his life.

Edwards' former campaign manager, David Bonior, said that he shudders to think what might have happened if Edwards had beaten Obama and Hillary Clinton in the primaries and become the Democratic nominee.